Movie Reviews for Veronica Mars - The Complete Third Season

Veronica Mars - The Complete Third Season

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Movie Reviews of Veronica Mars - The Complete Third Season

Movie Review: "We used to be friends, a long time ago..."
Summary: 4 Stars

I enjoyed the third season of "Veronica Mars". The new college setting added freshness to an already energetic series, and the mix of storylines- some long, some short- kept things unpredictable. This time we get a couple of long storylines, one or two shorter ones, and a bunch of stand-alone episodes. Things worked fine on this score, except for maybe the couple of episodes where the dean-getting-murdered storyline overlapped with the coach-getting-murdered storyline: when Veronica and her dad were discussing clues during these episodes, sometimes it was hard to tell what case they were talking about. But that's a quibble.

Along with the college backdrop, other elements lend a new maturity to the proceedings. For instance, we see several examples of life not being fair despite one's best efforts. In particular, I'm thinking of the latest developments in Frank Capra's Weevil character. Tough and smart during the first two seasons, Weevil's street cred is not serving him well as he gets older. Here's he's a downtrodden maintenance man at the college, watching as Veronica and her friends rocket past him toward seemingly limitless opportunities. It's sad to see, but unfortunately realistic. The new, slower, more melancholy version of the show's familiar theme song underscores this and other less-than-bucolic developments during this final season.

Speaking of that, all major plotlines are wrapped up by season's end, though a few smaller ones remain unresolved (Keith's professional future, Veronica's romantic future, plus one or two other things). The mood of the final scene- Veronica walking off into the distance- is uncertain, again contributing to this season's unsure, indeterminate flavor.

So is this season a downer? Not at all. Things are happening for Veronica and her new aspiring-NPR-announcer boyfriend, and even some of the goofier characters gain a little wisdom (yes, even surfer dude Dick). But amid the opportunities and the growth, the melancholy is palpable, if relieved on occasion. And, of course, knowing that the show wasn't renewed for a fourth season is yet another underscoring of that theme.

In closing, as we're all enjoying this final DVD set of "Veronica Mars", here's an appeal: we're not getting a fourth season of the show, and we're not getting that re-vamped, jump-ahead-a-few-years "Veronica at the FBI" show, either (as seen in the special features, the latter was a last-ditch effort to preserve the series in at least some form). So, you powers-that-be out there, how about a final TV movie or two to get some real closure instead of the semi-closure we have now? At least it might give us a chance to see- unrealistic or not- poor Weevil move onto something more productive than mopping floors.

But, if that doesn't happen, my thanks to the show's creative team for three entertaining, provocative seasons. We could've done worse.

Movie Review: Best Show Ever
Summary: 5 Stars

Loved this show, wish they hadn't been dumb and cancelled it after 3 seasons. The show had major potential.

Movie Review: Despite the Rumors, No Drop-off in Quality
Summary: 5 Stars

Many people seem to have been let down by Veronica Mars' 3rd Season. I must report -- I am not one of them. Instead, I found this season to be just as strong as the two before it, and possibly stronger overall than the 2nd.

In the 3rd Season, Mars makes the jump to college that so many high school shows ultimately do. It's always hard on a show, to make that large-scale transition, but this one pulls it off pretty well. Yes, it's true -- some characters get less time in the spotlight (like, understandably, Weevil), but that doesn't mean that characterization suddenly weakens in the show. Instead, we meet some new characters, and get a deeper glimpse into one or two (like, finally, Dick).

Moreover, Veronica Mars, by its nature, is a constantly evolving show. The first season revolved around mysteries and conflicts that were all essentially resolved by the season finale. By this point in the series, we're far from what gave the show its initial identity -- Veronica isn't as much of an outcast anymore; her romantic situation is far different; her parental situation has changed, having resolved the situation with her mother; she understands what were once question-marks about her past; High School has ended. Characters we've known and loved have died, or gone to jail, and others have taken their places in one way or another. In short, it makes sense to me that there are people who bought into the show in Season One, who cannot hang tight through Season Three, because they're fairly different experiences. If someone just absolutely loved Duncan, and watched the show for him (and there must have been some)... well... they'd be disappointed. But what does not change are good characters, tight plots, smooth writing, and excellent acting, and these are what keep me happy with the show all the way through to its too-soon final minutes.

The smaller plot-arcs this season employs, instead of the marathon sessions of the first two, are well done and each satisfying. Those who say that the show's final episodes are all stand-alone, this is only partially true. While there isn't the over-arching mystery for Veronica to solve over the last few episodes, there are running arcs that tie events together, like the upcoming Sheriff's election, and of course the constantly dissolving/re-forming relationship dynamics.

The last (and sadly final) episode is powerful and gripping, and makes any good fan clamor for a continuation, which was, perhaps, the point.

All in all, and even if I never get my final resolution, I'm happy with the show and grateful for the entertainment it's provided over three stellar seasons. Season Three is no drop-off in quality from its predecessors, and only hurts me in its sudden finality.

Excellent show. Excellent season. Five stars.

Movie Review: I loved this Series.
Summary: 5 Stars

I had never seen this Series until the Third Season. That being said, I was glued to my set every Tuesday hoping, praying for a new episode. The quick dialogue, quirky personalities and overall fun attitudes, even in the heart of a mystery, made and make this series so great.

Now, after this show's been cancelled, I've bought all of the Seasons and while the Third Season is a little off kilter it still is an great Season and something I can put in and watch time and time again.